ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the Kansas City Chiefs have signed defensive tackle Mike Pennel and waived DT Terrell McClain, who they had just signed 11 days ago, to make room on the roster.
Pennel, 28, entered the league back in 2014 out of the Colorado State-Pueblo as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers. In his rookie season, Pennel played in thirteen games and recorded eight tackles.
In 2015, he received more playing time with Green Bay, playing all 16 games, starting 5 and recorded 25 tackles, 16 solo, and a sack.
Pennel was suspended the first four games of the 2016 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy on February 6, 2016. He played the following eight games for Green Bay before getting suspended the final fours game of the year for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy again, his second offense of the season. In eight games, Pennel only registered seven tackles and was released by the Packers at the end of the season.
Pennel quickly made the jump to the New York Jets, who claimed him off waivers shortly after the Packers released him. On March 16, 2017, he signed a year-long deal with the Jets and played in all 16 games, starting 3, and recorded a career-high 35 tackles that year. New York gave him a new three-year contract for 2018 and put together another decent season, recording 27 tackles. However, the Jets declined the option on Pennel’s contract and he became a free agent to begin 2019.
Pennel signed a 2-year deal with the New England Patriots on March 19, 2019, but failed to make the team at the end of the pre-season and was waived on August 26, 2019.
Mike Pennel now joins the Chiefs, who are looking for help along the defensive line and are hoping the 6-foot-4-inch, 330-pound defensive tackle can fit the bill at stopping the run and maybe help with getting after the passer. Kansas City plays Aaron Rodgers and the Packers next weekend on Sunday Night Football and it could be up to the defense to get the ‘W’ with Mahomes nursing a bad knee after Thursday’s game.
